Philodendron plant named ‘Brasil’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Philodendron plant named ‘Brasil’, characterized by its unique dark green and yellow green variegated leaves; elongated leaf apices; and young stems and leaf petioles that are initially reddish pink becoming reddish orange and eventually light green with subsequent development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhilodendron plant, botanically known as Philodendron scandensoxycardium and referred to by the cultivar name Brasil.

The new Philodendron is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of anunnamed selection of Philodendron scandens oxycardium. The newPhilodendron was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environmentin Holambra, Brazil, as a single plant within a planting of the unnamedselection in 1991. The selection of this plant was based on its uniquegreen and yellow green variegated foliage.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by cuttings at Holambra, Brasil,and Sebring, Fla., has shown that the unique features of this newPhilodendron are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Brasil’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Brasil’ as a new and distinct cultivar anddistinguish it from the parent selection:

1. Plants of the new Philodendron have unique dark green and yellowgreen variegated leaves.

2. Plants of the new Philodendron have elongated leaf apices.

3. Young stems and leaf petioles of plants of the new Philodendron areinitially reddish pink becoming reddish orange and eventually lightgreen with subsequent development.

The cultivar Brasil has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and/orfertilizer rate, without, however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Philodendron, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Philodendron. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of typical 16 to 18-week old plants of ‘Brasil’ grownin a 20-cm hanging basket container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plants ofthe new Philodendron grown in 20-cm hanging basket containers, withabout eight rooted cuttings per basket, in Sebring, Fla., with daytemperatures averaging 27° C., night temperatures averaging 13° C., andlight levels about 1,500 to 2,000 foot candles..

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Botanical classification: Philodendron scandens oxycardium cultivarBrasil.

Parent: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed selectionof Philodendron scandens oxycardium, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days at 25 to 35° C. Winter:About 14 days at 15 to 30° C.

Time to produce a rooted liner.—Summer: About 45 days at 25 to 35° C.Winter: About 60 days at 15 to 30° C.

Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typical of species.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Low-growing; cascading, trailing, decumbent. Full plantswith dense foliage.

Crop time.—From planting rooted cuttings, about 16 to 18 weeks arerequired to produce finished plants in 20-cm hanging basket containers.

Plant height.—About 14 cm.

Plant spread.—About 55 cm.

Stems.—Length: About 52 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm. Internode length:About 7.7 cm. Texture: Smooth. Branching: Branching enhanced bypinching; potentially branching at every node. Color: Young stems:Reddish pink, close to 182B to 182C, to reddish orange, close to 171A.Older stems: Green, 144A to 146A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 11.3 cm.Width: About 8.5 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Acuminate, elongated. Base:Cordate. Aspect: Mostly flat to undulate; mostly horizontal. Texture:Smooth, waxy; somewhat glossy. Color: Dark green ground color withyellow green to light green central variegation pattern. Variegationpattern longitudinal to the leaf axis and irregular. Low lightconditions enhance variegation development.

Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Dark green, 147A;central longitudinal stripe, yellow green, close to 145A, to lightergreen, 146A to 146B to 146C to 147B. Occasionally, some areas close to153A in color. Young and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Darkgreen, 147A to 147B; central stripe, close to 145A to 146D. Petiole:Length: About 7.3 cm. Diameter, at base: About 4 mm. Shape: Channeled.Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong, but flexible. Color: Youngfoliage: 182A to 182B. Fully expanded foliage: Mostly green, 144A;channel, 146A.

Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not beenobserved on plants of the new Philodendron.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Philodendron hasnot been observed on plants of the new Philodendron.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Philodendron plantnamed ‘Brasil’, as illustrated and described.